An efficient rearing system rapidly producing large quantities of poultry red mites, Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae), under laboratory conditions

The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is one of the most economically deleterious ectoparasites affecting egg-laying hens in many parts of the world. New approaches to control D. gallinae often require the maintenance of colonies of D. gallinae under laboratory conditions. In the present study, we present an efficient rearing system for D. gallinae, consisting of a metal cage, a plastic storage box and a tray filled with water. Chicks were raised in the cage as host animals. A novel trap was developed to monitor the dynamic changes of mite populations, made with a plastic centrifuge tube and a disposable breathing mask with folds. Mite parameters were analyzed, including number of mites and eggs, survival and feeding rates, oviposition, hatchability and the proportion of D. gallinae at different life stages. The results show that the rearing system had a 53.5-fold increase in the number of mites over a period of six weeks after the introduction of mites. The survival rates of mites were above 94%, and the mean feeding rates ranged from 22.57% to 37.30%. The mean number of eggs per female ranged from 3.42 to 3.50, with the hatchability of eggs above 97%. Nymphs made up most of the population, ranging from 71.46% to 81.37%, while the population of larvae was minor and ranging from 7.54% to 13.04%. The mask trap used in this study was an effective and convenient device to shelter D. gallinae and monitor the dynamic changes of the mite population. The rearing system proved very effective in maintaining and reproducing colonies of D. gallinae, with great potential for the evaluation of the efficacy of vaccines or compounds against D. gallinae under laboratory conditions. It would be a useful tool for close observations in studies on the biology, acology and physiology of poultry red mites.